Venting hot drink closure

ABSTRACT

A closure for venting steam from hot drinks, comprising a frustro-conical indentation in the face of the closure, an upwardly, reverse indentation in the frustroconical portion of the closure which exhibits a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Weir&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; or dam effect on the liquid, at least one hinged flap formed in said reverse indentation defined by a peripheral cut score in the base of the frustro-conical indentation and an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains the hinge in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting and closing after venting to prevent liquid flow, is provided.

United States Patent Parks VENTING HOT DRINK CLOSURE [75] Inventor: Kenneth Jay Parks, Ringwood, NJ.

[73] Assignee: American Can Company,

Greenwich, Conn.

[22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 327,620

[52] U.S. C1.... 220/335, 220/D1G. 27, 229/D1G. 14, 229/43, 220/368, 215/310 [51] Int. Cl B65d 51/16 [58] Field of Search 220/44 R, D16. 27; 229/D1G. 14, 43; 215/56 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,114,823 4/1938 Toscano 229/43 3,048,317 8/1962 Coctrune et a1. 220/44 R 3,193,130 7/1965 Miller 220/44 R Nov. 26, 1974 3,206,059 Fead et a1. 220/44 R Primary ExaminerWi1liam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Douglas B. Farrow Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert P. Auber; Ernestine C. Bartlett; George P. Ziehmer [57] ABSTRACT A closure for venting steam from hot drinks, comprising a frustro-conical indentation in the face of the do sure, an upwardly, reverse indentation in the frustroconical portion of the closure which exhibits a Weir or dam effect on the liquid, at least one hinged flap formed in said reverse indentation defined by a peripheral cut score in the base of the frustroconical indentation and an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains the hinge in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting and closing after venting to prevent liquid flow, is provided.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures VENTING HOT DRINK CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposable vending cups are now used throughout the world to carry away beverages purchased from machines, snack bars, etc. Obviously covers must be provided for such containers to allow the purchaser to carry the beverage without spilling the contents. Hot coffee, perhaps the most common beverage sold in take-out cups, requires that certain features must be provided in the cup cover for the cover to be used successfully. The hot coffee gives off steam which must be vented from the cup through the cover to prevent build-up of pressure in the cup which may otherwise pop the cover from the cup rim. While the cover therefore must provide a vent opening, the opening preferably should not allow any appreciable spillage of the coffee from the cup. Moreover, the vent opening should not function as a nozzle to spray the coffee against the hand ofthe party who mounts the cover in place on the cup rim.

It is known to provide a small hole or slits in such lids as center portions thereof for venting steam from hot liquids. Such venting means serve the intended function, but, at the same time, drops of the liquid contents can ooze through the venting means permitting outspilling of the contents at the top of the closure.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel closure structure wherein provision is made for permitting escape of vapor to the atmosphere while preventing liquid flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A novel closure for venting steam from hot liquids through the face of the closure is provided by forming the frustrum of an oval cone in the face of the closure which extends toward the liquid side. Creating a Weir" or dam effect on the liquid is a reverse pocket or indentation which extends upward and is formed in the face opposite the base of the frustrum. Venting takes place through a cut in this base area with creation of a hinge effect by the uncut portion which allows venting and closing after venting preventing the liquid from flowing through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a closure of the invention and 1 shows the arrangement of the frustro-conical indentation therein.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary bottom perspective showing the bottom of the frustro-conical portion and the reverse indentation contained therein.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge permitting venting ofthe closure taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom perspective showing the bottom of a frustro-conical portion and the reverse indentation contained therein in an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge permitting venting in the alternative embodiment illustrated taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A cover or lid 10 is typically formed of a medium impact styrene or other thermoplastic material or combinations of such thermoplastics with paper to serve as a closure for a-drinking cup which may contain coffee, tea, or other hot liquids. The lid 10 may comprise a disc containing a central panel 11, an upwardly extending inside wall 12, a beaded rim 13 and a skirt 14. As is evident, the oover is designed to provide an inside fit with the rim of a container wherein the rim of the container is disposed within the closure. However, the particular configuration of the wall, rim and skirt of the closure or the manner in which they cooperate with the rim of the container to form a seal at the rim forms no part of this invention and will not be further described as the novel venting means herein may be adapted to covers of any configuration.

The lid 10 is provided with a frustro-conical indentation 16, preferably in its center, and extending toward the liquid. A reverse pocket 17 is formed in the face opposite the frustrum which creates a Weir or dam effect on the liquid. The reverse pocket or indentation is provided with a hinged flap l8 defined by a line of complete severance 20 which extends around a major portion of the periphery of the base of the frustro-conical indentation, preferably from about 50 percent to about 60 percent of the total linear length, to leave an integral connecting portion 22 which resiliently retains the flap in a normally closed position while permitting the flap to be opened upwardly under the pressure of steam emanating from the hot liquid contained in the container and resiliently causing the flap to snap back and close the vent once said pressure has been removed. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the reverse pocket is cut through on either end of the reverse indentation to permit venting and closing through double hinges 18a and 18b as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the use of lid 10, the latter is secured to the top rim of a drinking cup which has been filled with liquid. When the lid 10 has been secured to the cup in this manner, the contents are entirely sealed from the exterior of the cup. When the user wishes to transport the cup containing hot liquid, venting occurs through the hinged flap areas withthe reverse pocket exhibiting a dam effect permitting venting while preventing liquid flow and over-spillage of the contents of the cup. As previously stated, the closure structure may be wholly formed of thermoplastic materials or the main body may be formed of plastic and paper composites, aluminum foil, paper and plastic composites, etc.

It is thought that the invention and many of its intended advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A closure comprising a disc-like body having means at its periphery for effecting attachment to a container, a frustro-conical indentation in the face of said disc having an upwardly reverse indentation therein, and at least one hinged flap formed in said reverse indentation, said flap being defined by a peripheral cut score in a portion of the base of said frustroconical indentation which forms a resilient hinge and an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains said hinge in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting and closing after venting.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral cut score extends from about 50 percent to about 60 percent of the total linear length of the base of said frustro-conical indentation.

3. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein two hinged flaps are present, said flaps being defined by two peripheral cut scores at opposite ends of the base of said frustro-conical indentation.

4. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure is formed of a thermoplastic material.

5. A closure as defined in claim 4 wherein said material is polystyrene.

6. A closure for cups and like containers having a beaded rim comprising a disc of resilient thermoplastic material, a frustro-conical indentation in the face of said disc having an upwardly reverse indentation therein, and a hinged flap formed in said reverse indentation, said flap being defined by a peripheral cut score from about 50 percent to about 60 percent of the total linear length of the base of said frustro-conical indentation which forms a resilient hinge and an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains said hinge in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting under pressure exerted by vapor in said container and closing after venting has taken place.

7. A closure for cups and like containers having a beaded rim comprising a disc of resilient thermoplastic material, a frustro-conical indentation in the face of said disc having an upwardly reverse indentation therein, and two hinged flaps formed in said reverse indentation, said flaps being defined by two peripheral cut scores at opposite ends of the base of said frustroconical indentation which forms an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains said hinges in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting under pressure exerted by vapor in said container and closing after venting has taken place. 

1. A closure comprising a disc-like body having means at its periphery for effecting attachment to a container, a frustroconical indentation in the face of said disc having an upwardly reverse indentation therein, and at least one hinged flap formed in said reverse indentation, said flap being defined by a peripheral cut score in a portion of the base of said frustroconical indentation which forms a resilient hinge and an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains said hinge in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting and closing after venting.
 2. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral cut score extends from about 50 percent to about 60 percent of the total linear length of the base of said frustro-conical indentation.
 3. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein two hinged flaps are present, said flaps being defined by two peripheral cut scores at opposite ends of the base of said frustro-conical indentation.
 4. A closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure is formed of a thermoplastic material.
 5. A closure as defined in claim 4 wherein said material is polystyrene.
 6. A closure for cups and like containers having a beaded rim comprising a disc of resilient thermoplastic material, a frustro-conical indentation in the face of said disc having an upwardly reverse indentation therein, and a hinged flap formed in said reverse indentation, said flap being defined by a peripheral cut score from about 50 percent to about 60 percent of the total linear length of the base of said frustro-conical indentation which forms a resilient hinge and an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains said hinge in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting under pressure exerted by vapor in said container and closing after venting has taken place.
 7. A closure for cups and like containers having a beaded rim comprising a disc of resilient thermoplastic material, a frustro-conical indentation in the face of said disc having an upwardly reverse indentation therein, and two hinged flaps formed in said reverse indentation, said flaps being defined by two peripheral cut scores at opposite ends of the base of said frustro-conical indentation which forms an integral connecting portion which resiliently retains said hinges in a normally closed position but openable to permit venting under pressure exerted by vapor in said container and closing after venting has taken place. 